FIFA Launch Match Fixing Investigations Against FAZ

The world soccer governing body, FIFA, has launched investigations into allegations Zambian soccer authorities cleared players under a worldwide match fixing ban in Finland to feature in the local league.

FIFA is clamping done on match fixing and any action perceived to promote offenders, as the one allegedly committed by FAZ officials, may receive strong punishment.

According to a statement published on the FIFA website, the body’s disciplinary committee has established an anomaly on the decision to allow the players line up in the local league without proper clearance.

FAZ is led by a celebrated Zambian soccer star Kalusha Bwalya who is also a member of the Confederations of African Football (CAF) executive committee.

“On 19 February 2013 FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football
Association of Zambia for having allegedly transferred and registered eight players in breach of the FIFA regulations governing the transfer of players,” a statement posted on the FIFA website reads.

FIFA further states, “it appears that eight players were transferred from the Finland Football Association to the Football Association of Zambia outside of the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS), without an International Transfer Certificate (ITC), and outside of the registration period.

“In addition, the players were all suspended by the Finland Football Association for match-fixing offences and these sanctions were extended as to have worldwide effect by the Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.”

Officials that are reportedly behind this mess are general secretary George Kasengele, staff officials at Football House Joel Kabika and Julio Chiluba.

FAZ president Bwalya and his deputy Boniface Mwamelo may also be answerable to the fraud related charges of allowing players to feature in the league under illegal circumstances.